Closure for containers.



W. C. MORRILL.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

APPHCATION FILED maze, 1914.

Patented July 4, 1916.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOI? I William Cfllrrall WflMOM y UNITED STATES PATENT our-Ion.

WILLIAM o. MORRILL, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed August 26, 1914. Serial No. 858,605.

adapted for the storage of various commodities, one adaptation of the invention being a receptacle for liquid soap machines,

. but it is to be understood that the invencover be positively locked to the glasstion is not limited in any way to use in this particular art.

It is common in various arts to employ a receptacle composed of glass or like frangible material, and to close the top of said receptacle by a glass or metal cover. As is well known, the application of the cover to a glass vessel and its removal therefrom tendsto chip or break the edge of the vessel or to fracture said vessel, particularly should the cover befrequently applied and removed, and such tendency.

either to chip the edge or to fracture the vessel is all the more apparent should the receptacle.

The object of my invention is to preclude chipping the edge or cracking a frangible receptacle when applying a cover to or removing it from such receptacle, and, more particularly, to lock the cover to said frangible vessel without fracturing or chipping the latter.

According to this invention, a receptacle and a cover therefor are provided with cooperating retaining means for clamping said cover tightly upon the vessel, and in addition thereto the receptacle and the cover are provided with cooperating locking means for positively restraining the cover from movement in any direction relative to the vessel, said locking means being separate from or independent of the retaining means.

In a specific embodiment of thelinvention, the retaining means consists of one or more bayonet shaped grooves in the receptacle and one or more studs or projections on the cover, saidstuds or projections being adapted, by a rotative movement of the cover relative to the vessel, to draw the cover upon or clamp it against the edge of the vessel so as to close the latter tightly.

The particular locking means embodied at which time the ha in my invention is a slot or groove in the vessel adapted to perform the function of a keeper and a locking mechanism carried by the cover, said locking mechanism being, preferably, key-operated. The keeper and the locking mechanism on the vessel and the cover respectively are so related that in the operation of applying and removing the cover the locking mechanism is free from contact with the edges ofthe keeper, thus precluding the locking devices from chipping the edges of the keeper slot during the application or removal of the cover, yonet grooves and stud of the cover are eflective in-clamping or releasing the cover, as the case may be. Upon applying the cover, and when it reaches a final clamped' position, the key is operated to turn the bolt within the keeper so as .to position the bolt in a manner to oflectually preclude movement of the cover, rotative or otherwise.

It is to be understood, accordingly, that the retaining means and the locking means are, in v a measure, independent of each other, but,-on the other hand, they mutually contribute to the performance of the functions necessary to secure the cover immovably upon the receptacle. The retaining means-and the locking means are so related that, the lock of the cover cannot operate in the grooves forming elements of V the retalnlng means, and vice versa, the reof the glass receptacle or of fracturing the same is overcom 7 Other features of the invention and the advantages thereof will appear from the following detailed description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the receptacle. Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section through the upper part of the receptacle,

said figure illustrating one of the retaining grooves and showing one groove which constitutes a lock keeper. Fig. 3 isan inverted,

or bottom plan, view of the case. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cover shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical cross sections on J illustrating the successive positions assumed by a retaining stud in a retaining groove and by the locking mechanism in the lock re ceiving groove forming the keeper during the rotative movement of a cover when applying or removing the latter.

A designates a receptacle composed of suitable material. Usually this receptacle con sists of glass, although any other material suitable for the purpose may be employed.

As shown, thereceptacle is cylindrical, the

top thereof being open. The top portion of the receptacle is provided with a plurality of retaining grooves B, preferably three in number, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. In addition to the retaining grooves B, the top portion of the receptacle is provided with another groove C constituting a keeper for the locking mechanism. It is preferred, however, to employ a series of these locking grooves, three in number, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A series of three retaining grooves B areemployed in order to receive a like number of retaining studs on the cover D, whereby the cover may be firmly clamped upon the receptacle and the strain incidental to the clamping operation may be distributed equally among the retaining studs. It is not necessary, however, to employ a series of keeper grooves C, for the reason that a single locking mechanism E is employed on the cover, but it is found desirable in practice to employ a number of these lock-receiving keepers C on the receptacle for the reason that the cover may be more easily applied to the receptacle, that is to say, it is not necessary to arrange the cover in one certain position when applying said cover to the receptacle, it being apparent that the cover may be arranged in any one of three positions wherein the locking mechanism IE will enter an appropriate keeper groove C. Each retaining groove 13 is in the form of the well known bayonet slot, that is to say, the groove B consists of a horizontal leg Z) having an offset portion 7) extending through the edge portion of the receptacle, said horizont-al leg 6 being slightly inclined with respect to the edge of the receptacle or an end portion of said horizontal leg 7) may be so inclined, as indicated 1n the developed view Fig. 8 of the drawings. It is to be understood that the bayonet-shaped retaining grooves B are positioned equi-distantly around the open end portion of the receptacle and that each groove B is constructed as heretofore described.

The groove or slot C constituting the keeper for the locking mechanism is shown more particularly in Fig. 2, from which it appears that the middle portion of the groove is bounded by parallel edges 0. One end portion of the groove C is enlarged at c, 2'. e. the width of this enlarged part 6 is greater than the width of the groove between the parallel edges 0. The end portion of the groove opposite to the enlarged part 0 is offset at 0 said oflset part 0 opening freely into the groove and extending through an edge portion of the receptacle, as'clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It should be stated that when three retaining grooves B and three keeper grooves C are employed on the receptacle, the retaining grooves alternate with the keeper grooves, thisarrangement being clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

The cover D may be of any suitable or preferred material and constructed in any desired way for application to the open end portion of the receptacle. The cover shown in Figs. 3 and 1 consists of a single piece of metal, the same being preferably stamped or pressed to the required form and dimensions. The cover is provided with a depending flange d, and on this depending flange is provided a series of retaining studs F and a locking mechanism E. The retaining studs F correspond in number and position to the retaining grooves on the recepta cle so that the studs F will enter the retaining grooves when the cover is applied to the receptacle. As shown, the retaining studs are formed by displacing or pressing the metal from the flange (Z of the cover, but, ob-

' viously, any equivalent thereto may be em- The lock bolt 6 is so formed with respect to the keeper groove C that upon the application of the cover said lock bolt will notcontact with the edges of the keeper groove C. Before the cover is applied the lock bolt 6 is turned by the key to the position relative to the cover indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. turned to a position for the studs F to enter the oflsets b of the retaining grooves and for the lock bolt 6' to enter the oflset c of one keeper groove. The cover is pressed down upon the receptacle and simultane- To apply the cover it is a ously therewith a partial rotative movement is imparted to the cover or the receptacle, as aresult of which the retaining studs F pass into the inclined leg portions 7) of the retaining grooves, and the lock bolt 6' passes through the groove C between the parallel edges 0 without contacting with said edges. As the cover is given apartial rotative movement the retaining studs F ride against the inclined edges of the retaining grooves and the lock bolt 6 passes into the enlarged end portion 0 of one keeper groove. The effect of the engagement between the studs F of the cover and the inclined portions of the retaining grooves B is to draw or clamp the cover tightly upon the receptacle, but in the application of the cover to the receptacle the bolt 6 of the lock mechanism is not in contact with the edges of the keeper groove, for the reason that the studs F in contact with the edges of the grooves 6 act as guides on the rotative movement of the cover, whereby the cooperating studs and grooves determine with precision the relation of the locking means to the glass receptacle during such rotative movement of the cover. The described organization of parts enables the cover to be applied or removed without the possibility of chipping or fracturing the material of the receptacle or the edges of the keeper groove therein. The cover having been applied, the operator should turn the key of the lock in-order that the bolt 6' will assume the position indicated by dotted lines at the left in the keeper groove C of Fig. 9, in which position of the bolt 6 it lies across the keeper groove C so that the cover is retained fixedly or immovably in position. It is apparent that the studs F in contact with the grooves B will retain the cover firmly in position on the receptacle and that the lock bolt will prevent rotative movement in either direction of the cover relative to the receptacle, as a result of which the retaining mechanism and the locking mechanism contribute mutually to the performance of the function of holding the cover immovably and tightly in position upon the receptacle.

It is apparent, furthermore, that to remove the cover the operator should turn the key in the lock to bring the bolt 6 into the horizontal positions shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the cover may be turned and lifted in order to remove it from the receptacle. During such removal the studs F of the cover travel in the grooves b of the receptacle and the lock bolt 6 moves through the keeper groove C without contact with the edges thereof.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the cover may be applied and locked so as to tightly engage the cover with the receptacle and lock it immovably in position, and similarly the cover may be easily heretofore, it is apparent that the invention may be employed in various arts wherein it is desirable to tightly close and securely lock a container for various materials.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

l. A container of the class described embodying a receptacle, a cover therefor, co-

operating means on the receptacle and the cover for retain ng said cover in position upon the receptacle, and other cooperatingmeans on the receptacle and cover for looking the cover from movement relativeto the.

receptacle, said retaining means and the locking means being independent of each other in operation and said retaining means operating during the rotative movement of the cover to position the locking means in i such relation to the receptacle that said locking means is free from contact with said receptacle while rotating the cover.

7 2. A container of the class described embodyin a receptacle, a cover therefor, 00-

operating devices on the cover and the receptacle adapted by a relative rotative movement of one part to the other for retaining the cover in tight engagement with said receptacle, and cotiperating locking devices on the cover and the receptacle for positively locking said cover from movement, rotative and otherwise, relative to said receptacle, said retaining means being separate from said locking means and said retaining means operating during the rotative movement of the cover to position the locking means in such relation to the receptacle that said locking means is free from contact with said receptacle while rotating the cover.

3. A container of the class described embodying a receptacle, a cover therefor, cooperating grooves and studs on the cover and the receptacle respectively for clamping said cover tightly upon the receptacle, and other cooperating devices on the cover and receptacle respectively for locking said cover against rotative movement with respect to said receptacle said locking devices being separate from the retaining studs and grooves and all said means contributing mutually to the function of holding the cover.

tightly and immovably upon the receptacle, said retaining studs and grooves operating during the rotative movement of the cover to position the locking devices in such relation to the receptacle that said locking devices are free from contact during such ro- 5 tative movement of the cover.

a. A container of the class described embodying a receptacle, a cover therefor, cooperating retaining means on the cover and the receptacle for clamping said cover relative to the receptacle, and a keeper on the receptacle cooperating With a locking mechanism on the cover for positively locking the latter against movement relative to the former, said locking mechanism and keeper being independent of the retaining means, said retaining means operating during a rotative movement of the cover to position the locking means free from contact with the keeper during such rotative movement of the cover.

In a container of the class described, the combination With a receptacle, and a removable cover therefor, of a keeper in said receptacle, locking means on said cover, and cooperating retaining means on the receptacle and cover adapted by a rotative movement of one part to the other for clamping the cover to or releasing it from the receptacle said retaining means operating during a rotative movement of the cover to posi tion the locking means free from contact with the keeper slot, and said retaining means cooperating with the locking means and keeper in the performance of the function of holding the cover tightly and immovably upon the receptacle.

6. A container of the class described embodying a receptacle, a cover therefor, a keeper slot on the receptacle the edges of which slot are parallel and one end portion of which is of greater Width than the remainder thereof, locking means on the cover positioned to travel in the keeper slot, and retaining means'on the receptacle and cover respectively for clamping the cover tightly upon the receptacle, said retaining means operating during the rotative movement of the cover to position the locking means in such relation to the keeper slot that said locking means is free from contact With said keeper slot While rotating the cover.

7. A container of the class described embodying a receptacle, a cover therefor, co-

spect to the receptacle, and retaining means 7 on the cover and the receptacle for clamping the former tightly upon the latter, said retaining means being engageable and releasable by a rotative movement between the cover and the receptacle, and said retaining means operating during the rotative movement of the cover to position the locking means in such relation to the receptacle that said locking means is free from contact With said receptacle While rotating the cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. MORRILL. lVitnesses:

RALPH V. S. MoRR'rLL, HILDA Rnnrnnnone.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 05 resents, Washington. D. C." 

